Fluid fuel control system



Sept. 28, 1937. E. J. TE PAS FLUID FUEL CONTROL SYSTEM Filed Jan. 12, 1953 4 SheejZS-Shet l Z a 4 m 5 5 l I ll 5 0/0 9 3 I f q m 3 z z a e "a v5 l/ 5P 4 E Q. 3 III 1! G r mvENmR 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 E. J. TE PAS FLUID FUEL CONTROL SYSTEM Filed Jan. 12, 1953 III Iowa. 010. PP blPb-o 6 l Sept. 28, 1937.

INVENTOR- I; far/4am 51% 5 r/TT EAEy Sept. 28, 1937. Y E. J. TE PAS FLUID FUEL CONTROL SYSTEM Filed Jan. 12, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet; s

INVENTOR f g /J m Sept. 28, 1937. E. J. TE-PAS FLUID FUEL CONTROL SYSTEM Filed Jan. 12, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Sept. 28, 1937 UNITED STATES FLUID FUEL CONTROL SYSTEM Edmund J. Te Pas, Rocky River, Ohio, assignor Y to The Patrol Valve Company, Cleveland, Ohio,

a corporation of Ohio Application January 12, 1933, Serial No. 651,308

8 Claims.

This invention relates to fuel control devices for fluid fuel burning appliances and it has for its object the provision, of a combined ignition and control system for fluid fuel fired appliances employing a plurality of main heating burners and a plurality of ignition pilots for such burners with fuel control means responsive to the operation of the pilot burners so that in the event of the extinguishment of any one of the pilot burners, the fuel control means is automatically placed in an inoperative and safe condition. A further object of this invention is the provision of a novel thermostatic pilot burner and a new and improved thermostatically and manually operable main burner fuel control valve.

Stated in general terms, my invention comprehends for use in connection with a fluid fuel fired appliance employing a plurality of burners; the use of a plurality of thermostatic pilot burners which pilot burners are supplied with fuel by means of a series fuel connection so that upon the extinguishment of any one of the pilot burners, the fuel supply of such pilot burner and that of the succeeding pilot burners is automatically cut off. The last pilot burner to be supplied with gas in such series is arranged to operate as an igniter for the burner of a thermostatically operated main supply valve, which valve requires the presence of a flame at such pilot burner for its operation so that in the event of extinguishment of any one of the group of pilot burners, it will be impossible to open the main supply valve andsupply gas to the main heating burners.

A separate fuel supply line is connected to the pilots so that in the event of their extinguishment, they can be temporarily supplied with gas through such connection regardless of their thermal condition. This connection is provided for starting purposes only. Another feature of my invention is the provision of a thermostatically operated main burner supply valve having provisions for its control by means independent of the thermostatic actuator with further provisions for the control of the fuel supply line of the burner provided for the actuation of such valve.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts, hereinafter described, illustrated in some of its embodiments in the accompanying drawings and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevational view partly in section, of a gas fired boiler employing my improved fuel control; Figure 2 is a sectional View taken on line 2-2, of Figure 1, showing the burner arrangement of the boiler;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2 showing certain details of the burner arrangement; Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional View taken on line 44, Figure 2, of one of the pilot burners; Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional 5 view taken on line 5-5, Figure 4, of the pilot of the pilot burner valve; Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 6--6, Figure 2, of the main burner control valve with the valve shown in closed position; Figure 7 is a sectional View corresponding to Figure 6, showing the main burner fuel control valve in open position; and Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 88, Figure 2, showing certain details of the main burner fuel control valve.

For purposes of illustrating my invention, I have applied it to a conventional gas fired house heating boiler I, having a plurality of main heating burners 2 supplied with gas from a manifold 3 under control of a thermallyoperated valve 4 which is connected to a fuel supply line 5, having a manually operable control valve 6. The thermally operated valve 4 is automatically controlled by a motor operated device I under control of a room thermostat 8. 25

The valve 4 requires for its operation the presence of a flame at the pilot burner 9. The actuation of the valve 4 is effected by means of the heat supplied by an auxiliary burner Ill which serves to heat a thermostatic element N that is 0 located in a tube l2, the aforesaid auxiliary burner being located in the lower part of such tube.

Additional pilot burners l3 and M are connested in series in a pilot burner gas supply line 15 communicating with the main fuel supply conduit 5. The inlet side of the pilot supply line is under control of a manually operable valve l6, while the outlet side of the pilot supply line is under control of a manually operable valve ll. The pilot burners 9, I3 and M are self-closing burners of the type generallyreferred to as thermostatic pilot burners. Each is so designed as to cut oif the fuel line H) if it becomes extinguished. These burners are connected in series in the pilot supply conduit 15 so that in the event of the extinguishment of any one of these pilot burners, the gas supply line I5, up to such burners, is automatically cut off and this operation serves to cut off the gas supply of the pilot burners located in the supply line beyond. the extinguished burner.

The fuel supply of the auxiliary burner I0 is normally under control of the thermostatic pilots 9, l3 and I4. Normally the fuel passes from line l5 into bypass l8, valve 4, and a conduit l9 to burner Ill. The control of this fuel supply by valve 4 will be described hereinafter.

During the normal operation of the appliance, the valve ll is maintained in a closed position. In the event of extinguishment of any of the pilot burners, the valve l'l can be opened for the purpose of supplying gas to such pilot burner or burners and after such pilot burners have been operated for a length of time sufficient to open their valves, the valve i! can be closed and the device will then operate by way of the fuel supplied through the valve 16.

The pilot burners 9, l3 and it are of the construction illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 and comprise a burner head 29 having a plurality of burner ports 2i under control of an adjusting needle 22 which is operatively associated with a control port 23 formed in the bottom of 'such burner head. The burner head is supported on a tube id in the upper end of which is supported a bimetallic thermostatic bar 24. This bar is forked at its lower end for reception of a spool 26 which is adjustably secured to one end of a movable valve member 2?. The valve member 21 is associated with a port 28 provided by the valve casing 23. The casing 23 is received in a fitting 33, which fitting in turn communicates with the tube. A closure cap 3| closes an opening in one side of the fitting 33 provided thereat to permit access to the adjustable spool 26 of the valve.

The bimetallic thermostatic element 24 is arranged so that during the operation of the burner 9, thevalve member 21 is held away from its port 28 and in the event of extinguishment of the pilot burner and upon the subsequent cooling of the thermostat, it will warp and shift its lower free end to the left as viewed in Figure 4 shift- ,ing' the movable valve member 2'! in closing relation with its control port 28, thus cutting off the fuel supply of such pilot burner as well as the fuel supply of the pilot burners which are located in the fuel line 95 after, or beyond, such pilot burners.

In Figure 5, the arrows indicate the normal direction of fluid flow through the pilotvalves. In the event of extinguishment of any or all of the pilot burners, fuel can be supplied to them by opening the valve H to supply fuel backwards in line !5 and igniting the pilot 9. The valve of such burner will be opened in a short length of time by its thermal element, whereupon fuel is supplied to burner l3, so that it may be ignited. Burner i4 may be successively ignited in a similar manner. As soon as all the burners are ignited, valve I? may be closed and fuel will be supplied in the normal direction in line I5, from valve l6.

Ordinarily, the starting of the appliance is accomplished by merely opening valve l1 and lighting the pilot burner 9. Gas then passes through bypass l8, and conduit 19, to burner l9, which ignites by flashing through tube i2 from pilot 9. This opens main valve 43 to admit gas to the main burner which ignites from pilot burner 9. As the valve of the pilot burner 9 opens, it admits fuel to the burner 13 and such burner is ignited by the main burners which are in operation at this time. Shortly after the ignition of the pilot l3, its valve will open and admit fuel to the burner l4 whereupon this burner is ignited from the adjacent main burners. Valve H can then be closed and the device operated under control and in response to the operation of the thermostatic pilot burners 9, l3 and I4.

Referring now to Figures 6, '7 and 8, the main burner control valve comprises a casing 32 provided for the housing of a snap-action mechanism which includes an L-shaped lever 33 having an arm 34 which is engaged by a snap-over spring 35. Adjustment means 36 are provided for regulating the tension of this spring. The snap-action mechanism just described, is connected to the thermostat H by means of a rod 3'! having an adjustment member 38 pivotally connected at 39 to the L-shaped crank or lever 33. The L-shaped crank at the point remote from its arm 34, is connected to a valve stem 40 by way of an adjustable spool 4!. The valve stem 40 extends into a valve body 42 wherein it engages with a valve head 43.

The escape of fuel from the valve body 42 around the valve stem 43 is prevented by means of a, flexible diaphragm 44 which is secured centrally about the valve stem and at its periphery to the valve housing 42. A spring 45 is provided to urge the valve member 43 into engagement with its port 43. The upper end of the valve member 46 carries a cylindrical guide member 41 slidably received in the centrally bored member 48. The central bore of the member 48 communicates with the conduits l8 and I9 by way of which fuel is supplied to the auxiliary burner H3. The flow of fuel through the conduits I! and i8 is under control of a cylindrical valve member 49 which is slidably received in the central boreof the member 43. Thus it is apparent that the elements 48, 41 and 49 constitute valve means for the auxiliary burner H) and are termed, auxiliary valve means. To the upper end of the valve member 49, there is secured a weight 58, which in turn is connected by means of a chain 5! to the motor operated valve actuator I which is under control of the room thermostat 8.

The bimetallic thermostatic bar H is arranged so that when it is heated, it tends to warp to the left as viewed in Figures 6 and 7, thereby actuating the valve with a snap movement to the position shown in Figure 7. Upon extinguishment of the burner ID, the valve parts are snapped from the position shown in Figure 7 to the position they occupy in Figure 6.

The guide member 41 of the valve head 43 opcrates as a valve to regulate the flow of fuel by Way of the port 5| to the burner It! so that the thermostatic bar I I will not overheat. Referring to Figure 7, it will be seen that the spring 45 urges the valve member 43 downwardly. Thus, with the valve parts in the position shown in Figure '7, the bimetal H has snapped valve 43 open. This opens the main burner supply valve and main burner 2 ignites from pilot 9. However, simultaneously with the opening of main burner 43 the port 5| leading to the auxiliary burner I is closed, cutting off said burner I0, so there results a cooling of the thermostat I I, upon the happening of which, the thermostatic bar H gradually moves to the right as viewed in Figure 7 until the member 4'! uncovers the port communicating with the supply line I9 of the burner l0, whereupon fuel is again supplied to the burner ID. The bimetal H will graduate to an intermediate position so as to keep valve 43 open, and to supply fuel to main burner 2; but not opening sufficient to completely shut off port 5| to auxiliary burner Hi. In other words, a point of equilibrium is reached wherein port 5| is opened just sufiiciently to supply enough fuel to heat bimetal I! to a point to keep port 5| in such position.

After'the boiler has been in operation a sulficient length of time to cause the room thermostat 8 to change its position; such change occurs and it serves toclose the electrical circuit of the motor of the device 1, the operation of which causes the dropping of the weight 50, and the downward movement of the plunger 49 whereupon the valve member 43 is shifted to cover its port 46 cutting off the supply of gas to the main burner and valve 49 covers port 52 to cut off fuel to burner In. The device then stays in this position until'the room thermostat 8 again shifts in the other direction to connect the motor device 1 to a source of electrical energy, whereupon the weight is lifted and fuel is supplied to the burner ID by reason of the plunger 49 uncovering the port 52. If the pilot 9 is operating, the gas supplied to the burner I0 is ignited therefrom, whereupon the thermostat H is first heated and then serves to snap the valve parts to the position shown in Figure 7.

However, should any one of pilot burners l4, 13, or 9 be extinguished auxiliary burner II] will not ignite and the valve 43 will not open to admit fuel to main burner 2. 1

The motor operated device I and the room thermostat 8 are of any suitable design and they are not here illustrated or described in detail as such devices are old and well known in art of controlling heating appliances.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have provided an automatic control for fluid fuel fired appliances employing a plurality of main burners and a plurality of ignition pilot burners in which the safe operation of the appliance is assured under any and all conceivable conditions which might result in the extinguishment of any one of the pilot burners.

Furthermore, it is to be understood that the particular forms of apparatus shown and described, and the particular procedure set forth, are presented for purposes of explanation and illustration and that various modifications of said apparatus and procedure can be made without departing from my invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In combination, a plurality of main burners, a fuel supply conduit leading to said burners, a plurality of pilots spaced from one another and disposed in ignitible relation with said main burners, said pilots being connected with said fuel supply, a valve in the fuel conduit controlling the supply of fuel to said main burners, thermally responsive means operably connected to said valve, heating means for said thermally responsive means, said heating 'means being ignitible from one of said pilots, thermostatically controlled valve means connected to each of said pilots and operated by the heat of said pilots to maintain open the pilot fuel supply, each of said thermostatically controlled means affecting the fuel supply to said one pilot and operating to cut off the supply of fuel to said one pilot adjacent said heating means in the event of flame failure at any one of said pilots.

2. In combination, a plurality of burner means, a fuel supply conduit leading to said burner means, two spaced pilots disposed in ignitible relation with different sections of said plural-burner means, connections between said pilots and said fuel supply conduit, thermostatically controlled means in said. supply conduit controlling the supply of fuel to said plural-burner means, heat shut off the fuel supply a shut-off valve in the responsive means including a burner positioned in ignitible relation to one of said pilots and actuating said thermostatically controlled means, and thermostatically controlled means connected in the fuel supply to said other pilot operable to to said first pilot upon flame failure at said second pilot.

3. In combination, a plurality of burner means, a fuel supply conduit leading to said burner means, two spaced pilots disposed in ignitible relation with different sections of said pluralburner means, connections between said pilots and said fuel supply conduit, thermostatically controlled means in said supply conduit controlling the supply of fuel to said plural-burner means, heating means ignitible from one of said pilots and actuating said thermostatically controlled means, and thermostatically controlled means operable by the flame of said second pilot, fuel connection of said one pilot, operating connections between said valve and said thermostatically controlled means of the second pilot whereby flame failure of said second pilot actuates said valve to shut off the fuel supply to said one pilot.

4. In combination, a plurality of burner means, a fuel supply conduit leading to said burner means, two spaced pilots disposed in ignitible relation with different sections of said pluralburner means,a fuel line connected with said conduit, said pilots being connected in series in said fuel line, a valve in the fuel line for shutting off the flow of fuel to one of said pilots, thermostatically controlled means connected to said valve and operable from the flame of the other of said pilots whereby upon flame failure of said last pilot the valve is actuated to closed position, valve means in the fuel supply conduit for controlling the flow of fuel to the pluralburner means, thermostatically controlled means for operating said last valve means, and heat responsive means for actuating said last thermostatically controlled means, an auxiliary burner for actuating said heat responsive means, said auxiliary burner being ignitibly associated with the pilot controlled by said first valve.

5. In combination, a plurality of burner means, a fuel supply conduit leading to said burner means, two spaced pilots disposed in ignitible relation with different sections of said pluralburner means, a fuel line connected with said conduit, said pilots being connected in series in said fuel line, a valve in the fuel line for shutting off the flow of fuel to one of said pilots, thermostatically controlled means operable from the other of said pilots and connected to said valve, a second valve means in said fuel conduit controlling the flow of fuel to said plural-burner means, thermostatically controlled means for actuating said second valve means, an auxiliary burner operably associated with said last mentioned thermostatically controlled means and disposed in ignitible relation with said first mentioned pilot, said auxiliary burner being connected with the fuel supply conduit, and means for intermittently supplying fuel to said auxiliary burner.

6. In combination, a plurality of burner means, a fuel supply conduit leading to said burner means, two spaced pilots disposed in ignitible relation with different sections of said pluralburner means, each of said pilots being connected to said fuel supply conduit, a valve in said fuel supply conduit controlling the fiow of fuel to said ;-plural-burnerxmeans, thermostatically controlled means operating said valve, :a. valve for shutting off the flow=o f fuel -tozone :of said pilots, said last valve :being normally closed, thermostatically controlled =means :operably con- *nected to the other .-of said pilots and to said second valve whereby 11118111251118 of said second .pilot tends to open said second valve, an auxiliary burner operating said first main thermostatically controlled means, and means for igniting said auxiliary burner :from said first pilot whereby the absence of flame at said first pilot renders inoperative said first named thermostatically controlled means.

7. Incombination, a plurality of burner means, a fuel supply conduit leading to said .burner means, two spaced pilots disposed in ignitible relation with different sections of said jpluralburner means, :a fuel line connected to said conduit, said pilots being connected in series in said fuel line, a normally closed valve in said fuel line controlling 'the flow 0f z'fuel .to one of said pilots, thermostatically controlled means connected to said valve and actuated from the other of said pilots, valve means controlling the flow of fuel through said conduit to said plural- .burner means, thermostatically controlled means operably connected to said last valve, an auxiliary burner actuating said second :named ther- -mostatically controlled means, said auxiliary burner being disposed in ignitible relation with :said first pilot, ;a fuel supply line connecting :said (auxiliary burner to said conduit, and a normally closed valve in said last named fuel supply line.

48. In combination, :a pluralityof main burners,

:a fuel supply conduit leading to each of said burners, .a valve in said conduit having means biasing the vsamerto-ward closed position, a plu- ;r.alit;y ofiauxiliary burner devices, at least two -;o'f:said 'burner'devices being located in igniting proximity to separate ones of said main burn- "BBS, a second fuel supply conduit leading suc :cessive'l-y "towsaid auxiliary burners, thermostatic i :side of :said :first mentioned auxiliary burner from the fuel supply whereby thezmainfuel valve will close upon the ex'tinguishment of either of said :last :mentioned auxiliary burners.

EDMUNDJ. 'I'E PAS. 

